Kalami
A language of Pakistan
| Population | 40,000 (1987). |
| Region | Upper Swat Kohistan, between Peshmal and Kalam north to upper valleys above Kalam; Dir Kohistan in Thal, Lamuti (Kinolam), Biar (Jiar), and Rajkot (Patrak) villages. |
| Language map |
Northern Pakistan, reference number 28 |
| Alternate names | Bashgharik, Bashkarik, Dir Kohistani, Diri, Dirwali, Gaawro, Garwa, Garwi, Gawri, Gowri, Kalami Kohistani, Kohistana, Kohistani |
| Dialects | Kalam, Ushu, Thal, Lamuti (Lamti), Rajkoti (Patrak), Dashwa. Dialect differences do not hinder communication, except speakers of other dialects have difficulty with Rajkot. Lexical similarity: 90%–93% among main dialects; Rajkoti has 75% with Kalami; Dashwa has 77% with Kalami [gwc], and 74% with Rajkoti. |
| Classification | Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kohistani |
| Language use | Apparently few remaining speakers of Dashwa dialect. Men also use Pashto or some Urdu [urd]. |
| Writing system | Arabic script, Nastaliq style. |
| Comments | Most widely understood indigenous language in north Swat and Dir Kohistan. Muslim. |
Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:
Academic Publications
BAART, Joan L. G., author. 1997. The sounds and tones of Kalam Kohistani, with wordlist and texts.
BAART, Joan L. G., author. 1999. "Tone rules in Kalam Kohistani (Garwi, Bashkarik)."
BAART, Joan L. G., author. 1999. A sketch of Kalam Kohistani grammar.
BAART, Joan L. G., author. 2003. "Contrastive tone in Kalam Kohistani."
BAART, Joan L. G., author. 2004. "Tone and song in Kalam Kohistani (Pakistan)."
BAART, Joan L. G., author. 2008. "The tones of Kalam Kohistani (Garwi, Bashkarik)."
BAART, Joan L. G.; BAART-BREMER, Esther L.; SAGAR, Muhammad Zaman, authors. 2004. Names of plants in Kalam Kohistani (Pakistan).
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BAART, Joan L. G.; SAGAR, Muhammad Zaman, authors. 2004. "Gaawri zaban-o-adab."
BAART, Joan L. G.; SAGAR, Muhammad Zaman, compilers. 2004. Kalam Kohistani texts.
DECKER, Sandra J.; HALLBERG, Daniel G.; RENSCH, Calvin R., authors. 1992. Languages of Kohistan.
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LOTHERS, Michael David, author. 1996. Deixis in Kalam Kohistani narrative discourse.
RENSCH, Calvin R., author. 1992. "Patterns of language use among the Kohistanis of the Swat Valley."
STAHL, James L., author. 1988. Multilingualism in Kalam Kohistan.

